The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Open to North American-born players 20 years of age or younger, the SJHL's 12 teams play in three divisions: the Itech , Kramer, and Sherwood divisions. A major attraction in small-town Saskatchewan, the SJHL draw 400,000 fans each season -- nearly half the population of the province. Until 2012, he winner of the SJHL playoffs continues on to play in the Anavet Cup in a best-of-7 series against the champion of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The winner of the Anavet Cup will compete in the Junior "A" National Championship for the Royal Bank Cup. This format was replaced in 2013 with the Western Canada Cup replacing the Anavet and the Doyle Cups (the combined championship for British Columbia and Alberta). Under the new format the runner-up at the Western Canada Cup also qualifies for the Royal Bank Cup.

The league's history dates back to 1917, the first year of junior hockey in the province. Some version of the league played in every season since then. Until 1971 the league's champion competed for the Memorial Cup.

The league has had several times where the league was reorganized and played in different leagues as a result of larger, regional leagues being formed. Among them are the Soo Line League (1948-1949) and the North Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (1948-1950), which was became the SJHL. Both of these leagues were formed as a result of the fall out from the formation of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, which itself lasted until 1956. The 1950 incarnation of the league lasted until 1966, when most of the teams joined the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, which eventually became the present day Western Hockey League. The other remaining teams joined the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The present league was established when three teams (the Moose Jaw Canucks, Regina Pats, and the Weyburn Wings) left the CMJHL to re-establish the SJHL along with a new franchise in Saskatoon.

The league has been very stable in terms of membership as the league has not had a franchise move or fold since 2001. The league has also not added any expansion teams since 1998. Through the league's history since 1966, the main reason for losing teams has been the presence of a Western Hockey League franchise in a city, which has happened in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, and Swift Current.

From 1971 to 2012, the Anavet Cup was held between the provincial champions of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. From 1971 to 1989 the winner would advance to the Abbott Cup for the Western Canada championship and a berth in the Manitoba Centennial Cup for the National Junior "A" Championship. Starting in 1990 the Anavet Cup winner would advance to the re-named Royal Bank Cup. The Anavet Cup and the Doyle Cup (BC/AB championship) was replaced by the Western Canada Cup in 2013

Until 1970 the Abbott Cup was held as the Western Canadian championship and a spot in the Memorial Cup. After 1970 the league was moved to the Junior "A" level and would compete for the Manitoba Centennial Cup until that was replaced in 1989 with the Royal Bank Cup. From 1990 to 1999 the winner of the round robin game between the Anavet and Doyle Cup winners would be awarded the Abbott Cup. The Abbott Cup was retired in 1999. Neither of the SJHL's Abbott Cup champions won the Memorial Cup as both were defeated by the Montreal Junior Canadiens in the final series 4 games to none.